Showing posts with label Annual list. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Annual list. Show all posts

Thursday, January 01, 2015

Reading Statistics

I didn't do my normal Best/Worst Lists this year because--despite the date on this post--I compiled everything on two months into the new year, so I don't want to try to rate things based on memory. However, here are the stats for everything else, keeping in mind that, as usual, I did not cull the books I did not finish:
number of books read in 2014: 105
number of books read in 2013: 90
number of books read in 2012: 88
number of books read in 2011: 69
number of books read in 2010: 67
number of books read in 2009: 85
number of books read in 2008: 93
number of books read in 2007: 75
number of books read in 2006: 77
number of books read in 2005: 127
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
TOTAL over fifteen years : 1398
average read per year, over fifteen years: 93.1
2014 average read per month: 8.75 (all fifteen years: 7.77)
2014 average read per week: 2.02 (all fifteen years: 1.79)

number read in worst month:
2014: 6—September
2013: 4—tied January and May
2012: 4—June
2011: 1—December
2010: 0—July
2009: 4—tied June and August
2008: 4—June
2007: 3—November
2006: 4—tied April, May, June and August
2005: 5—January and June
2004: 0—July
number read in best month:
2014: 14—August
2013: 10—November
2012: 12—December
2011: 9—June
2010: 8—May
2009: 12—February
2008: 11—February
2007: 9—March
2006: 11—January
2005: 21—February
2004: 12—June
number of fiction:
2014: 67
2013: 56
2012: 62
2011: 33
2010: 44
2009: 55
2008: 65
2007: 53
2006: 56
2005: 74
2004: 61
number of non-fiction:
2014: 39
2013: 36
2012: 26
2011: 36
2010: 23
2009: 30
2008: 28
2007: 22
2006: 21
2005: 53
2004: 41
[discrepancies in totals are due to combined fiction/nonfiction books and edited books (which are not counted)]

number of books by female authors: 46 (2013 : 32 | 2012 : 33 | 2011: 24 | 2010: 40 | 2009: 35 | 2008: 36 | 2007: 24 | 2006: 24)
number of books by male authors: 66 (2013 : 48 | 2012: 50 | 2011: 41 | 2010: 23 | 2009: 60 | 2008: 58 | 2007: 40 | 2006: 33)

[discrepancies in totals are due to individual books by multiple authors and edited books (which are not counted)]

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 Reading List

January (1F, 6NF)
* Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming
* Death Angel by Linda Fairstein (audiobook)
* One Doctor by Brendan Reilly
* W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
* Tatiana by Martin Cruz Smith
* Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (ebook)
* We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler (audiobook)

February (7F, 2NF)
* The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
* Death of a Cad by M.C. Beaton (audiobook)
* Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders
* Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan
* Vengeance by Stuart M. Kaminsky (audiobook)
* Now I Know by Dan Lewis
* The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (ebook)
* The Drop by Michael Connelly (audiobook)
* All the Time in the World by Jessica Kerwin Jenkins

March (4F, 4NF)
* Hometown Revelations by Mark Usler
* The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived by Allan Lazar (ebook)
* The Leopard by Jo Nesbø
* Jack Reacher's Rules by Lee Child (ebook)
* Fables, Vol. 7: Arabian Nights (and Days) by Bill Willingham
* The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (ebook)
* Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink (audiobook)
* The Bat by Jo Nesbø (ebook)

April (6F, 5NF)
* The Missing Ink by Philip Hensher
* Never Go Back by Lee Child
* A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchison (audiobook)
* Courting Trouble by Lisa Scottoline (audiobook)
* The Secret Rooms by Catherine Bailey
* Heads in Beds by Jacob Tomsky (ebook)
* Fables, Vol. 12: The Dark Ages by Bill Willingham
* Fosse by Sam Wasson (ebook)
* The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (ebook)
* Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells, and Silent Nights by Ronald D. Lankford
* The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (ebook)

May (5F, 3NF)
* Myths and Mysteries in Archaeology by Susan A. Johnston (audiobook)
* O Pioneers! by Willa Cather (ebook)
* Hallucinations by Oliver Sacks (ebook)
* The Saturday Morning Murder by Batya Gur
* Look At The Birdie by Kurt Vonnegut (audiobook)
* The Revenge of Anguished English by Richard Lederer
* Fagin the Jew by Will Eisner
* The Likeness by Tana French (ebook)

June (5F, 3NF)
* The Parthenon Enigma by Joan Breton Connelly
* Asylum by Madeleine Roux
* The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (audiobook)
* All the Time in the World by E.L. Doctorow (ebook)
* Beneath the Ashes by Sue Henry (audiobook)
* Spell It Out by David Crystal
* The Quest by F.E. Peters (audiobook)
* Divergent by Veronica Roth (ebook)

July (7F, 2NF)
* Shotgun Lovesongs: A Novel by Nickolas Butler (audiobook)
* Peking to Paris by Dina Bennett (ebook)
* Shady Characters by Keith Houston
* Unseen by Karin Slaughter (ebook)
* Faithless by Karin Slaughter (ebook)
* FaceOff (ed. David Baldacci)
* How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny (audiobook)

August (13F, 1NF)
* Living with a Wild God by Barbara Ehrenreich
* The Cruelest Month by Louise Penny (ebook)
* Terminal by Roderick Gordon
* The Used World by Haven Kimmel (audiobook)
* Wicked Eddies by Beth Groundwater
* XOM-B by Jeremy Robinson
* The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North
* Everything for a Dog by Ann M. Martin (audiobook)
* Destroyer Angel by Nevada Barr
* Kwik Krimes (ed. Otto Penzler)
* Remains of Innocence by J.A. Jance
* From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris (ebook)
* How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle

September (4F, 2NF)
* An Ice Cold Grave by Charlaine Harris (ebook)
* My Dog by Matthew Inman
* The Redeemer by Jo Nesbø (audiobook)
* Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris (ebook)
* Stitches by Anne Lamott
* Strangers by Bill Pronzini

October (6F, 5NF)
* A Dark and Twisted Tide by S.J. Bolton
* The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (audiobook)
* The Night Searchers by Marcia Muller
* The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels (ebook)
* The Zhivago Affair by Peter Finn (audiobook)
* Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller (ebook)
* Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (ebook)
* Death on Demand by Paul Thomas (ebook)
* The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006 (ed. Dave Eggers)
* Things That Go Bump in the Church by Mike Abendroth (ebook)

November (3F, 4NF)
* I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (ebook)
* The Language Hoax by John H. McWhorter
* The Language of Houses by Alison Lurie
* Case Histories by Kate Atkinson (ebook)
* Committed to Christ: 40 Devotions for a Generous Life by Bob Crossman
* Committed to Christ: Six Steps to a Generous Life by Bob Crossman
* Midnight Crossroad by Charlaine Harris (ebook)

December (6F, 2NF)
* The Greatest Russian Stories of Crime and Suspense (ed. Otto Penzler) (ebook)
* Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon (audiobook)
* A Fine Romance by Susan Branch
* The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson (ebook)
* Christmas Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley (ebook)
* The Black Box by Michael Connelly (audiobook)
* Shots Fired by C.J. Box
* What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank by Nathan Englander (ebook)

Wednesday, January 01, 2014

Reading Statistics

Most Memorable {these are not necessarily Literary, but they stuck in my head}
* Torn, by Justin Lee
* The Union Quilters, by Jennifer Chiaverini
* Contents May Have Shifted, by Pam Houston
* The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, by Jonas Jonasson
* Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger
* Faithful Place, by Tana French

Best
* Torn, by Justin Lee
* The Testament of Mary, by Colm Tóibín
* Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger
* Zealot, by Reza Aslan
* Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter


Least Memorable {books I remember NOTHING about, based on title alone}
* Better Than Fiction, by Don George
* Nothing Gold Can Stay, by Ron Rash
* Hang Fire, by Henry Kisor

Yuck
* Until I Find You, by John Irving

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Keeping in mind that, as usual, I did not cull the books I did not finish, here's the geeky number bit:
number of books read in 2013: 90
number of books read in 2012: 88
number of books read in 2011: 69
number of books read in 2010: 67
number of books read in 2009: 85
number of books read in 2008: 93
number of books read in 2007: 75
number of books read in 2006: 77
number of books read in 2005: 127
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
TOTAL over thirteen years : 1292
average read per year, over fourteen years: 92.3
2013 average read per month: 6.67 (all thirteen years: 769)
2011 average read per week: 1.54 (all thirteen years: 1.77)

number read in worst month:
2013: 4—tied January and May
2012: 4—June
2011: 1—December
2010: 0—July
2009: 4—tied June and August
2008: 4—June
2007: 3—November
2006: 4—tied April, May, June and August
2005: 5—January and June
2004: 0—July
number read in best month:
2013: 10—November
2012: 12—December
2011: 9—June
2010: 8—May
2009: 12—February
2008: 11—February
2007: 9—March
2006: 11—January
2005: 21—February
2004: 12—June
number of fiction:
2013: 56*
2012: 62
2011: 33
2010: 44
2009: 55
2008: 65
2007: 53
2006: 56
2005: 74
2004: 61
number of non-fiction:
2013: 36*
2012: 26
2011: 36
2010: 23
2009: 30
2008: 28
2007: 22
2006: 21
2005: 53
2004: 41
* 2 books were mixed short stories and essays

number of books by female authors: 32 (2012 : 33 | 2011: 24 | 2010: 40 | 2009: 35 | 2008: 36 | 2007: 24 | 2006: 24)
number of books by male authors: 48 (2012: 50 | 2011: 41 | 2010: 23 | 2009: 60 | 2008: 58 | 2007: 40 | 2006: 33)
[discrepancies in totals are due to individual books by multiple authors and edited books (which are not counted)]

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013 Reading List

JANUARY
* To Fetch a Thief, by Spencer Quinn (audiobook)
* Torn, by Justin Lee
* Uncommon Clay, Margaret Maron (audiobook)
* Plato and a Platypus Walk Into a Bar... , by Thomas Cathcart (audiobook)

FEBRUARY
* A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel, by Hope Larson
* Because I Said So!, by Ken Jennings
* Better Than Fiction, by Don George
* The Union Quilters, by Jennifer Chiaverini(audiobook)
* Diners, Dives & Dead Ends, by Terri L. Austin
* The Railway Detective, by Edward Marston
* Spiral, by Roderick Gordon (audiobook)
* Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask, by Anton Treuer
* The Testament of Mary, by Colm Tóibín

MARCH
* Double Homicide, by Johathan Kellerman (audiobook)
* Today I Will Fly!, by Mo Willems
* Monty Python's Flying Circus: Complete and Annotated, by Luke Dempsey
* Downfall, by Terri Blackstock (audiobook)
* The Chalk Girl, by Carol O'Connell (audiobook)
* Contents May Have Shifted, by Pam Houston

APRIL
* The Search, by Iris Johansen (audiobook)
* Women of the Frontier, by Brandon Marie Miller
* Travels with Epicurus, by Daniel Klein
* Playground, by 50 Cent
* Web Of Evil, by J.A. Jance (audiobook)
* Colin Fischer, by Ashley Edward Miller
* The Hebrew Bible, by Lawrence H. Schiffman (audiobook--Modern Scholar)

MAY
* Kinsey and Me, by Sue Grafton
* Nothing Gold Can Stay, by Ron Rash
* Life Sentences, by Laura Lippman (audiobook)
* The Story of English in 100 Words, by David Crystal

JUNE
* The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, by Jonas Jonasson (audiobook)
* The Girl in the Green Raincoat, by Laura Lippman (audiobook)
* BZRK, by Michael Grant
* Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton (audiobook)
* Monday Mourning, by Kathy Reichs
* Inferno, by Dante Alighieri
* Benediction, by Kent Haruf

JULY
* Underwater Dogs, by Seth Casteel
* The Liars' Gospel, by Naomi Alderman
* Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger (audiobook)
* The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith
* Dream New Dreams, by Jai Pausch
* A Little Book for New Theologians, by Kelly M. Kapic
* Cockpit Confidential, by Patrick Smith
* Hang Fire, by Henry Kisor

AUGUST
* Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan, by Luke Syson
* Help Thanks Wow: Three Essential Prayers, by Anne Lamott
* The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson (audiobook)
* Mystery Writers of America Presents The Mystery Box, by Brad Meltzer
* Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers & Other Odd Events on the Way to Scientific Discovery, by Stephanie Pain
* Emily the Strange, by Rob Reger

SEPTEMBER
* Inferno, by Dan Brown  (audiobook)
* A Tale Dark & Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz
* The Killing Club, by Marcie Walsh
* Shirley Jones: A Memoir, by Shirley Jones
* Jerusalem: The Contested City, by F.E. Peters (audiobook--Modern Scholar)
* Lost Girls, by Ann Kelley

OCTOBER
* Merciless, by Lori G. Armstrong
* The Shining Girls, by Lauren Beukes
* Faithful Place, by Tana French (audiobook)
* Killing Floor, by Lee Child (ebook)
* Until I Find You, by John Irving
* Winter Study, by Nevada Barr
* A Fistful of Collars, by Spencer Quinn (audiobook)
* Fry's English Delight Series Five, by Stephen Fry (audiobook)

NOVEMBER
* Die Trying, by Lee Child (ebook)
* Gideon's Sword, by Douglas Preston (audiobook)
* Zealot, by Reza Aslan
* Spider Woman's Daughter Hillerman, Anne 
* Understanding The Holocaust, by David Engel (audiobook--Modern Scholar)
* Inherit the Dead, by Jonathan Santlofer
* Started Early, Took My Dog, by Kate Atkinson
* In the Footsteps of Jesus, by Jean-Pierre Isbouts
* Falling Together, by Marisa de los Santos (audiobook)  
* Tripwire, by Lee Child  (ebook)

DECEMBER
* Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter (audiobook)
* Watching Eagles Soar, by Margaret Coel (ebook)
* Just One Evil Act, by Elizabeth George
* What the Cat Saw, by Carolyn Hart (ebook)
* Running Blind, by Lee Child (ebook)

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Reading Statistics

Most Memorable {these are not necessarily Literary, but they stuck in my head}
* The Secret Life of Cowboys, by Tom Groneberg
* Communication Matters, by Deborah Tannen
* The Rope, by Nevada Barr
* David, by Mary Hoffman
* I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had, by Tony Danza

Best
* The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey
* 1222, by Anne Holt
* A House Reunited, by Professor Jay Winik (on CD)
* Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice

Least Memorable {books I remember NOTHING about, based on title alone}
* The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski (on CD)
* The Hunger Games Companion, by Lois H. Gresh
* My Ideal Bookshelf, by Thessaly La Force
* The Story of Ain't, by David Skinner

Yuck
* All Things New, by Lynn Austin

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Keeping in mind that, as usual, I did not cull the books I did not finish, here's the geeky number bit:
number of books read in 2012: 88
number of books read in 2011: 69
number of books read in 2010: 67
number of books read in 2009: 85
number of books read in 2008: 93
number of books read in 2007: 75
number of books read in 2006: 77
number of books read in 2005: 127
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
TOTAL over thirteen years : 1212
average read per year, over thirteen years: 93.2
2011 average read per month: 7.33 (all thirteen years: 7.77)
2011 average read per week: 1.69 (all thirteen years: 1.79)

number read in worst month:
2012: 4—June
2011: 1—December
2010: 0—July
2009: 4—tied June and August
2008: 4—June
2007: 3—November
2006: 4—tied April, May, June and August
2005: 5—January and June
2004: 0—July
number read in best month:
2012: 12—December
2011: 9—June
2010: 8—May
2009: 12—February
2008: 11—February
2007: 9—March
2006: 11—January
2005: 21—February
2004: 12—June
number of fiction:
2012: 62
2011: 33
2010: 44
2009: 55
2008: 65
2007: 53
2006: 56
2005: 74
2004: 61
number of non-fiction:
2012: 26
2011: 36
2010: 23
2009: 30
2008: 28
2007: 22
2006: 21
2005: 53
2004: 41
number of books by female authors: 33 (2011: 24 | 2010: 40 | 2009: 35 | 2008: 36 | 2007: 24 | 2006: 24)
number of books by male authors: 50 (2011: 41 | 2010: 23 | 2009: 60 | 2008: 58 | 2007: 40 | 2006: 33)
[discrepancies in totals are due to individual books by multiple authors and edited books (which are not counted)]

Monday, December 31, 2012

2012 Reading List

January (5F, 3NF)
* Don't Shoot, by David M. Kennedy
* Daddy Long-Legs, by Jean Webster (Nook)
* The Secret Life of Cowboys, by Tom Groneberg
* Amos Walker, by Loren Estleman (Nook)
* The Noon God, by Donna Carrick (Nook)
* The Evolution of Faith, by Philip Gulley
* Cain, by José Saramago
* Chelsea Mansions, by Barry Maitland

February (4F, 2NF)
* Miss Zukas and the Library Murders, by Jo Dereske
* Freaks, by Tess Gerritsen (on Nook)
* The History of the World According to Facebook, by Wylie Overstreet
* Kill My Darling, by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
* The Hunger Games Companion, by Lois H. Gresh
* An Echo in the Bone, by Diana Gabaldon (on CD)

March (4F, 1NF)
* Down These Strange Streets (ed. by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois)
* Burn Out, by Marcia Muller (on CD)
* Breakdown, by Sara Paretsky
* The Scottish Prisoner, by Diana Gabaldon
* Communication Matters, by Deborah Tannen (on CD)

April (6F, 1NF)
* Apricot Jam, and Other Stories, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
* The Rope, by Nevada Barr
* Good Omens : The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (on CD)
* History's Greatest Lies, by William Weir
* Sworn to Silence, by Linda Castillo (on CD)
* The Odds, by Stewart O'Nan
* The Angel Esmerelda, Don Delillo

May (4F, 3NF)
* Deader Homes & Gardens, by Joan Hess (on CD)
* David, by Mary Hoffman
* 1222, by Anne Holt
* File M for Murder, by Miranda James
* A House Reunited, by Professor Jay Winik (on CD)
* FYI (edited by Bjorn Carey)
* Everything You Know About God is Wrong, edited by Russ Kick (on CD)

June (3F, 1NF)
* Unwanted, by Kristina Ohlsson
* Finny, by Justin Kramon
* Entombed, by Linda Fairstein (on CD)
* Is That a Fish in Your Ear?, by David Bellos

July (5F, 4NF)
* Cyberbooks, by Ben Bova
* Freefall, by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
* Poison Flower, by Thomas Perry
* Listomania, by The Listomaniacs
* Death Dance, by Linda Fairstein (on CD)
* China in Ten Words, by Yu Hua
* Legacy of the Frontier, by Deborah Erickson
* Cadillac Beach, by Tim Dorsey (on CD)
* The Second Book of General Ignorance, by John Lloyd

August (5F, 3NF)
* In Pursuit of Spenser, by Otto Penzler
* The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey
* Walking on Earth and Touching the Sky, by Timothy P. McLaughlin
* Worth Dying For, by Lee Child (on CD)
* The Flight of Gemma Hardy, by Margot Livesey
* Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice
* The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, by David Wroblewski (on CD)
* From the Kingdom of Memory, by Elie Wiesel

September (7F)
* Glaciers, by Alexis M. Smith
* The Mystery of the Fire Dragon, by Carolyne Keene
* The Maze Runner, by James Dashner (on CD)
* Agent 6, by Tom Rob Smith
* Death in August, by Marco Vichi
* The Scorch Trials, by James Dashner (on CD)
* Judgment Call, J.A. Jance

October (7F)
* Buffalo Bill's Dead Now, by Margaret Coel
* Odd Hours, by Dean Koontz (on CD)
* When Zachary Beaver Came to Town, by Kimberly Willis Holt
* An Apple for the Creature (ed. Charlaine Harris)
* Drawing Conclusions, by Donna Leon (on CD)
* Calling Invisible Women, by Jeanne Ray
* XO, by Jeffrey Deaver

November (4F, 4NF)
* The Death Cure, James Dashner (on CD)
* Before The Poison, by Peter Robinson
* Demons (ed. John Skipp)
* Strength to Love, by Martin Luther King Jr.
* The Story of Ain't, by David Skinner
* I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had, by Tony Danza
* The Fabric of America, by Andro Linklater (on CD)
* Some Kind Of Fairy Tale, by Graham Joyce

December (8F, 4NF)
* Feet of Clay, by Terry Pratchett (on CD)
* The Woman Who Died a Lot, by Jasper Fforde
* All Things New, by Lynn Austin
* Fables: Legends in Exile, by Bill Willingham
* A Necessary Evil, by Alex Kava (on CD)
* Half Moon Bay, by Jerry Crow
* The Mammoth Book of New CSI, by Nigel Cawthorne
* My Ideal Bookshelf, by Thessaly La Force
* Looking for Yesterday, by Marcia Muller
* The Old Gray Wolf, by James D. Doss
* Totally MAD : 60 Years of Humor, Satire, Stupidity and Stupidity
* The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (on Nook)

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Reading Statistics

Most Memorable {these are not necessarily Literary, but they stuck in my head}
* A Secret Gift, by Ted Gup
* Jewels of the Romanovs, by Stefano Papi
* 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne
* 61 Hours, by Lee Child
* Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
* Rock 'n' Roll and American Society. Part One, From the Beginning to 1960, by William McKeen

Best
* Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins
* Travels in Siberia, by Ian Frazier
* Love Wins, by Rob Bell
* A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness
* A Certain Justice, by P.D. James
* The Grave Tattoo, by Val McDermid
* The Center of Everything, by Laura Moriarty

Least Memorable {books I remember NOTHING about, based on title alone}
* Science Secrets, by Alberto A. Martínez
* We Are Amused, by Brian Hoey

Yuck
* Shakespeare : The Seven Major Tragedies, by Harold Bloom
* Running Scared, by Lisa Jackson
* Fallen, by Lauren Kate

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Keeping in mind that, as usual, I did not cull the books I did not finish, here's the geeky number bit:
number of books read in 2011: 69
number of books read in 2010: 67
number of books read in 2009: 85
number of books read in 2008: 93
number of books read in 2007: 75
number of books read in 2006: 77
number of books read in 2005: 127
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
TOTAL over twelve years : 1124
average read per year, over twelve years: 93.7
2011 average read per month: 5.75 (all twelve years: 7.81)
2011 average read per week: 1.33 (all twelve years: 1.8)

number read in worst month:
2011: 1--December
2010: 0--July
2009: 4--tied June and August
2008: 4--June
2007: 3--November
2006: 4--tied April, May, June and August
2005: 5--January and June
2004: 0--July
number read in best month:
2011: 9--June
2010: 8--May
2009: 12--February
2008: 11--February
2007: 9--March
2006: 11--January
2005: 21--February
2004: 12--June
number of fiction:
2011: 33
2010: 44
2009: 55
2008: 65
2007: 53
2006: 56
2005: 74
2004: 61
number of non-fiction:
2011: 36
2010: 23
2009: 30
2008: 28
2007: 22
2006: 21
2005: 53
2004: 41
number of books by female authors: 24 (2010: 40 | 2009: 35 | 2008: 36 | 2007: 24 | 2006: 24)
number of books by male authors: 41 (2010: 23 | 2009: 60 | 2008: 58 | 2007: 40 | 2006: 33)
[discrepancies in totals are due to individual books by multiple authors and edited books which are not counted]

Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 Reading List

January (4F, 4NF)
  • Radiance, by Alyson Noel
  • The Disappearing Spoon, by Sam Kean
  • Rituals of the Season, by Margaret Maron (on CD)
  • The English is Coming! by Leslie Dunton-Downer
  • Lost to Time, by Martin W. Sandler
  • The Third Bear, by Jeff VanderMeer
  • Jane, by April Lindner
  • At Home, by Bill Bryson (on CD)
February (2F, 5NF)
  • Travels in Siberia, by Ian Frazier
  • A Dead Man's Tale, by James D. Doss
  • The Darwin Awards Countdown to Extinction, by Wendy Northcutt
  • Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins (on CD)
  • The Mind's Eye, by Oliver Sacks
  • A Secret Gift, by Ted Gup
  • Shakespeare : The Seven Major Tragedies, by Harold Bloom (on CD)
March (2F, 5NF)
  • Full Dark, No Stars, by Stephen King
  • Jewels of the Romanovs, by Stefano Papi
  • Say What?, by Gena K. Gorrell
  • Winter's Child, by Margaret Maron (on CD)
  • Paul Among the People, by Sarah Ruden
  • Secret America, by Barb Karg and Rick Sutherland
  • The Rise and Fall of the Bible, by Timothy Beal
April (1F, 1NF)
  • One of Our Thursdays is Missing, by Jasper Fforde (Book on Nook)
  • The Bible as History, by Ian Wilson
May (5NF)
  • Michelangelo : David, by Laura Ciucetti
  • Accademia Gallery, Marcella Anglani and Gabriele Rossi Rognoni
  • Love Wins, by Rob Bell
  • Santa Croce, by Emma Micheletti
  • Euphemania, by Ralph Keyes
June (3F, 6NF)
  • Colosseum Guide, by Letizia Abbondanza
  • The Diviner's Tale, by Bradford Morrow
  • Poetry Speaks Who I Am (edited by Elise Paschen and Dominique Raccah)
  • In Sheep's Clothing, by George K. Simon, Jr.
  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne (Book on Nook)
  • Read This Next, by Sandra Newman and Howard Mittelmark
  • The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey
  • Bible : The Story of the King James Version, 1611-2011, by Gordon Campbell
  • 61 Hours, by Lee Child (on CD)
July (2F, 3NF)
  • Running Scared, by Lisa Jackson (on CD ... and paper)
  • A Discovery of Witches, by Deborah Harkness
  • Uncle Vanya, by Anton Chekhov
  • A Lost Adolescence, by Joy Aavang
  • The Wilder Life, by Wendy McClure
August (6F, 2NF)
  • Mountain Ice, by R. E. Derouin
  • Inkdeath, by Cornelia Funke (on CD)
  • Dead on the Fourth of July, by R.E. Derouin
  • Sound Proof, by Barbara Gregorich
  • We Are Amused, by Brian Hoey
  • Below Zero, C.J. Box (on CD)
  • No Rest for the Dead (ed. by Andrew F. Gulli and Lamia J. Gulli)
  • Guide to the Vatican : Museums and City
September (4F, 2NF)
  • Camouflage, by Bill Pronzini
  • Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs
  • Dante's Divine Comedy, adapted by Seymour Chwast
  • A Certain Justice, by P.D. James (on CD)
  • King's Cross, by Timothy Keller
  • Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay
October (2F, 3NF)
  • Rock 'n' Roll and American Society. Part One, From the Beginning to 1960, by William McKeen (on CD)
  • Science Secrets, by Alberto A. Martínez
  • The Grave Tattoo, by Val McDermid (on CD)
  • Overland West (V. 1), by Will Bagley
  • Skip Case, by R. E. Derouin
November (6F, 1NF)
  • The Gospel in Brief, by Leo Tolstoy
  • Fallen, by Lauren Kate
  • The Center of Everything, by Laura Moriarty (on CD)
  • 13 Rue Thérèse, by Elena Mauli Shapiro
  • Betrayal of Trust, by J.A. Jance
  • City of Whispers, by Marcia Muller
  • Torment, by Lauren Kate (on CD)
December (1F)
  • Coffin Man, by James D. Doss

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Reading Statistics

Most Memorable {these not necessarily Literary, but they stuck in my head}
* What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell (on CD)
* How to Read a Painting, by Patrick de Rynck
* I Had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse? by Suzy Becker
* The Exile : An Outlander Graphic Novel, by Diana Gabaldon
* Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, by Robert Schnase

Best
* Stories : All-New Tales (edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio)
* Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins (on CD)
* In the Land of Invented Languages, by Arika Okrent
* How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, by Charles Yu
* Four Feet, Two Sandals, written by Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed ;illustrated by Doug Chayka

Least Memorable {books I remember NOTHING about, based on title alone}
* Making Mischief, by Gregory Maguire
* Dead or Alive, by Michael McGarrity (on CD)
* Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver

Yuck
* The Cutting Room, by Laurence Klavan (on CD)
* Book of the Dead, by Patricia Cornwell (on CD)
* House of Leaves, by Zampanò ; with introduction and notes by Johnny Truant


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Keeping in mind that, as usual, I did not cull the books I did not finish, here's the geeky number bit:
number of books read in 2010: 67
number of books read in 2009: 85
number of books read in 2008: 93
number of books read in 2007: 75
number of books read in 2006: 77
number of books read in 2005: 127
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
TOTAL over eleven years : 1055
average read per year, over eleven years: 95.9
2010 average read per month: 5.58 (all eleven years: 7.99)
2010 average read per week: 1.28 (all eleven years: 1.84)

number read in worst month:
2010: 0--July
2009: 4--tied June and August
2008: 4--June
2007: 3--November
2006: 4--tied April, May, June and August
2005: 5--January and June
2004: 0--July
number read in best month:
2010: 8--May
2009: 12--February
2008: 11--February
2007: 9--March
2006: 11--January
2005: 21--February
2004: 12--June
number of fiction:
2010: 44
2009: 55
2008: 65
2007: 53
2006: 56
2005: 74
2004: 61
number of non-fiction:
2010: 23
2009: 30
2008: 28
2007: 22
2006: 21
2005: 53
2004: 41
number of books by female authors: 40 (2009: 35 | 2008: 36 | 2007: 24 | 2006: 24)
number of books by male authors: 23 (2009: 60 | 2008: 58 | 2007: 40 | 2006: 33)

[discrepancies in totals are due to individual books by multiple authors and edited books which are not counted]

Friday, December 31, 2010

2010 Reading List

January (2F, 4NF)
  • The Cutting Room, by Laurence Klavan (on CD)
  • Don't Panic -- Dinner's in the Freezer, by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell and Bonnie Garcia
  • Don't Panic -- More Dinner's in the Freezer, by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell and Bonnie Garcia
  • Screaming Bones, by Pat Burden
  • What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell (on CD)
  • Last Words, by George Carlin with Tony Hendra
February (5F, 1NF)
  • By Blood We Live (edited by John Joseph Adams)
  • Wreath of Honesty, by Pat Burden
  • Living Oprah, by Robyn Okrant
  • Bury Him Kindly, by Pat Burden
  • Blaze, by Richard Bachman
  • Blood Trail, by C.J. Box (on CD)
March (3F, 2NF)
  • Making Mischief, by Gregory Maguire
  • Reading Jesus, by Mary Gordon
  • The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer; a retelling by Peter Ackroyd
  • Book of the Dead, by Patricia Cornwell (on CD)
  • U is for Undertow, by Sue Grafton
April (2F, 1NF)
  • Watchlist : A Serial Thriller, based on an idea by Jeffery Deaver
  • How to Read a Painting, by Patrick de Rynck
  • Good Morning, Midnight, by Reginald Hill (on CD)
May (6F, 2NF)
  • Blackout, by Connie Willis
  • One Shot, by Lee Child
  • A River in the Sky, by Elizabeth Peters
  • Dead or Alive, by Michael McGarrity (on CD)
  • The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb
  • Little Tiny Teeth, by Aaron Elkins
  • One Amazing Thing, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (on CD)
  • Number Freak, by Derrick Niederman
June (6F, 2NF)
  • Bindlestiff, by Bill Pronzini
  • Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver
  • The Complete Idiot's Guide to Self-Testing Your Personality, by Arlene Matthews Uhl
  • The Time Traveler's Guide to Medieval England : A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century, by Ian Mortimer
  • Lord John and the Private Matter, by Diana Gabaldon (on CD)
  • The Counterfeit Crank, by Edward Marston
  • A Faint Cold Fear, Karin Slaughter
  • Asta in the Wings, by Jan Elizabeth Watson
July

August (3F, 3NF)
  • I Had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse? by Suzy Becker
  • Exit Music, by Ian Rankin (on CD)
  • This Body of Death, by Elizabeth George
  • Words Gone Wild : Fun and Games for Language Lovers, by Jim Bernhard
  • The Essential Agatha Christie Stories : Twenty Unabridged Mysteries, by Agatha Christie (on CD)
  • Creating Colorado, by William Wyckoff
September (3F, 4NF)
  • Ouray, by Gail Zanett Saunders, Maria Jones and the Ouray County Historical Society
  • The Murder Room, by Michael Capuzzo
  • Detective Fiction, by M. Lee Alexander (on CD)
  • Soiled Doves, by Anne Seagraves
  • Cemetery Dance, by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (on CD)
  • Stories : All-New Tales (edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio)
  • Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins (on CD)
October (5F, 2NF)
  • The Spider's Web, by Margaret Coel
  • The Last Lie, by Stephen White
  • Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeffry Lindsay (on CD)
  • The Exile : An Outlander Graphic Novel, by Diana Gabaldon
  • Grave Sight, by Charlaine Harris (on CD)
  • Bounce, by Mathew Syed
  • Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, by Robert Schnase
November (3F, 2NF)
  • Body Work, by Sara Paretsky
  • In the Land of Invented Languages, by Arika Okrent
  • Grave Surprise, by Charlaine Harris (on CD)
  • Religion, Myth, and Magic, by Susan A. Johnston (Book on CD)
  • How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, by Charles Yu
December (6F)
  • Three Stations, by Martin Cruz Smith
  • The Tower, the Zoo, and the Tortoise, by Julia Stuart
  • Four Feet, Two Sandals, written by Karen Lynn Williams & Khadra Mohammed ; illustrated by Doug Chayka
  • Shatter, by Michael Robotham (on CD)
  • House of Leaves, by Zampanò ; with introduction and notes by Johnny Truant
  • Happyface, by Stephen Emond

Friday, January 01, 2010

Reading Statistics

This is the annual post that proves I am a geek about numbers as well as books. As in the past, I've compiled a list of books I read in 2009, beginning with the standard list of Titles Rated:

Most Memorable {these not necessarily Literary, but they stuck in my head}
Tunnels, by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
The Uncensored Bible, by John Kaltner, Steven L. McKenzie, and Joel Kilpatrick
The Last Synapsid, by Timothy Mason
Girl Sleuth, by Melanie Rehak
Rasskazy (edited by Mikhail Iossel and Jeff Parker)

Best
Just After Sunset, by Stephen King (on CD)
Columbine, by Dave Cullen
People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks
Every Man Dies Alone, by Hans Fallada
The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield (on CD)

Least Memorable {books I remember NOTHING about, based on title alone}
Rules of Thumb, by Tom Parker
I Can't Tell You, by Hillary Frank
Everyman, by Philip Roth (on CD)
Smile When You're Lying, by Chuck Thompson

Yuck
When Madeline Was Young, by Jane Hamilton (on CD)
Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn
Sisterchicks Do the Hula, by Robin Jones Gunn (on CD)
Ten Days in the Hills, by Jane Smiley (on CD)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Keeping in mind that, as usual, I did not cull the books I did not finish, here's the geeky number bit:

number of books read in 2009: 85
number of books read in 2008: 93
number of books read in 2007: 75
number of books read in 2006: 77
number of books read in 2005: 127
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
TOTAL over ten years : 988

average read per year, over ten years: 98.8
2008 average read per month: 7.03 (all ten years: 8.23)
2008 average read per week: 1.64 (all ten years: 1.9)

number read in worst month: 4--tied June and August
2008: 4--June
2007: 3--November
2006: 4--tied April, May, June and August
2005: 5--January and June
2004: 0--July
number read in best month: 12--February
2008: 11--February
2007: 9--March
2006: 11--January
2005: 21--February
2004: 12--June
number of fiction: 55
2008: 65
2007: 53
2006: 56
2005: 74
2004: 61
number of non-fiction: 30
2008: 28
2007: 22
2006: 21
2005: 53
2004: 41
number of books by female authors: 35 (2008: 36 // 2007: 24 // 2006: 24)
number of books by male authors: 60 (2008: 58 // 2007: 40 // 2006: 33)

[discrepancies in totals are due to individual books by multiple authors and edited books which are not counted]

Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 Reading List

January (3F, 6NF)
  • On Chesil Beach, by Ian McEwan
  • Love is a Mix Tape, by Rob Sheffield
  • The Bawdy Basket, by Edward Marston
  • Rules of Thumb, by Tom Parker
  • The Game of Thirty, by William Kotzwinkle
  • Wigfield, by Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, Stephen Colbert, and Todd Oldham
  • The Word of Promise: New Testament Audio Bible (on CD)
  • The Daily Coyote, by Shreve Stockton
  • The World Without Us, by Alan Weisman
February (7F, 5NF)
  • Remake, by Connie Willis
  • The Frost Fair, by Edward Marston
  • Tunnels, by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
  • The Midwest Fruit and Vegetable Book, by James A. Fizzell
  • Month-By-Month Gardening in Illinois, by James A. Fizzell
  • Jerry Baker's Fast, Easy Vegetable Garden, by Jerry Baker
  • Righting the Mother Tongue, by David Wolman
  • Where's My Jetpack? by Daniel H. Wilson, Ph.D.
  • Dragonfire, by Bill Pronzini
  • Just After Sunset, by Stephen King (on CD)
  • Fruits Basket 1, by Natsuki Takaya
  • I Can't Tell You, by Hillary Frank
March (4F, 3NF)
  • Smile When You're Lying, by Chuck Thompson
  • The Yellow Leaves, by Frederick Buechner
  • The Inner Circle, by Mari Jungstedt
  • The Devil's Paintbox, by Victoria Mckernan
  • When Madeline Was Young, by Jane Hamilton (on CD)
  • Sex with the Queen, by Eleanor Herman
  • Everyman, by Philip Roth (on CD)
April (2F, 3NF)
  • The Uncensored Bible, by John Kaltner, Steven L. McKenzie, and Joel Kilpatrick
  • Scene of the Crime, by Anne Wingate
  • Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith (on CD)
  • Word Origins -- And How We Know Them, by Anatoly Liberman
  • An Instance of the Fingerpost, by Iain Pears
May (7F, 2NF)
  • The Last Synapsid, by Timothy Mason
  • Salvation in Death, by J. D. Robb
  • Girl Sleuth, by Melanie Rehak
  • Runner, by Thomas Perry
  • Creepers, by Joanne Dahme
  • Blonde Roots, by Bernardine Evaristo
  • Deeper, by Roderick Gordon, Brian Williams
  • The Great Upheaval, by Jay Winik (on CD)
  • The Frozen Thames, by Helen Humphreys
June (3F, 1 NF)
  • Columbine, by Dave Cullen
  • Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon, by Debbie Fuller Thomas
  • The Burglar in the Rye, by Lawrence Block (on CD)
  • People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks
July (5F, 2NF)
  • U2 by U2, by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., with Neil McCormick
  • Nothing to Lose, by Lee Child
  • Catalyst, by Laurie Halse Anderson (on CD)
  • Chasing the Bear, by Robert B. Parker
  • Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn
  • Ella Minnow Pea : A Novel in Letters, by Mark Dunn
August (3F, 1NF)
  • Every Man Dies Alone, by Hans Fallada
  • Dog On It, by Spencer Quinn
  • The Thirteenth Tale, by Diane Setterfield (on CD)
  • A Prairie Tale, by Melissa Gilbert
September (4F, 2NF)
  • School Days, by Robert Parker (on CD)
  • The Late, Lamented Molly Marx, by Sally Koslow
  • Do Hard Things, by Alex & Brett Harris
  • Fire and Ice, by J.A. Jance
  • Born in Death, by J.D. Robb (on CD)
October (6F, 2NF)
  • The Bible : A Biography, by Karen Armstrong
  • Promised Land, by Cynthia Felice and Connie Willis
  • Sisterchicks Do the Hula, by Robin Jones Gunn (on CD)
  • The Alexandria Link, by Steve Berry
  • Rasskazy (edited by Mikhail Iossel and Jeff Parker)
  • Gym Candy, by Carl Deuker
  • The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins
  • The Time of My Life, by Patrick Swayze and Lisa Niemi
November (3F, 2NF)
  • Ten Days in the Hills, by Jane Smiley (on CD)
  • Pursuit and Persuasion, by Sally Wright
  • Curiosities of Literature, by John Sutherland
  • Hell is Other Parents, by Deborah Copaken Kogan
  • The Siege, by Stephen White
December (8F, 1NF)
  • The Burnt House, by Faye Kellerman (on CD)
  • Dark Mirror, by Barry Maitland
  • High Country, by Nevada Barr (on CD)
  • The Professional, by Robert B. Parker
  • The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, by Alain de Botton
  • The Best of Times, by Penny Vincenzi
  • The Wild Things, by Dave Eggers
  • The Widow's Revenge, by James D. Doss
  • The Gates, by John Connolly

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Reading Statistics

This is the annual post that proves I am a geek about numbers as well as books. As in the past, I've compiled a list of books I read in 2008, beginning with the standard list of Titles Rated:

Most Memorable {these not necessarily Literary, but they stuck in my head}

  • The Undomestic Goddess, by Sophie Kinsella(on CD)
  • Banishing Verona, by Margot Livesey
  • Ridiculous/Hilarious/Terrible/Cool, by Elisha Cooper
  • Ruby's Imagine, by Kim Antieau
  • Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (on CD)
Best
  • American Band, by Kristen Laine
  • Into the Forest, by Jean Hegland
  • Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer (on CD)
  • Blue Pills, by Frederik Peeters
  • Dakota, by Martha Grimes
  • John, by Niall Williams
  • Ruby's Imagine, by Kim Antieau
  • The Yiddish Policemen's Union, by Michael Chabon (on CD)
Least Memorable {books I remember NOTHING about, based on title alone}
  • Probable Cause, by Theresa Schwegel
  • Simple Justice, by John M. Wilson
  • Not Quite What I Was Planning (ed. Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith)
  • Wolf, No Wolf, by Peter Bowen
Yuck
  • The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by David Selznick
  • Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer (on CD)
  • Air Mail, by Terry Ravenscroft
  • Tweak, by Nic Sheff
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Keeping in mind that, as usual, I did not cull the books I did not finish, here's the geeky number bit:

number of books read in 2008: 93
number of books read in 2007: 75
number of books read in 2006: 77
number of books read in 2005: 127
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
TOTAL over nine years : 903

average read per year, over nine years: 100.33
2008 average read per month: 7.75 (all nine years: 8.36)
2008 average read per week: 1.79 (all nine years: 1.93)

number read in worst month: 4--June
2007: 3--November
2006: 4--tied April, May, June and August
2005: 5--January and June
2004: 0--July
number read in best month: 11--February
2007: 9--March
2006: 11--January
2005: 21--February
2004: 12--June
number of fiction: 65
2007: 53
2006: 56
2005: 74
2004: 61
number of non-fiction: 28
2007: 22
2006: 21
2005: 53
2004: 41
number of books by female authors: 36 (2007: 24; 2006: 24)
number of books by male authors: 58 (2007: 40; 2006: 33)
[discrepancies in totals are due to individual books by multiple authors and edited books which are not counted]

2008 Reading List

January (6F, 2NF)
  • Labyrinth, by Bill Pronzini
  • Probable Cause, by Theresa Schwegel
  • Lost, by Michael Robotham (on CD)
  • Lincoln's Dreams, by Connie Willis
  • Where There's A Will, by Aaron Elkins
  • American Band, by Kristen Laine
  • Free for All, by Don Borchert
  • The Undomestic Goddess, by Sophie Kinsella(on CD)
February (9F, 2NF)
  • The Amorous Nightingale, by Edward Marston
  • Prose Bowl, by Bill Pronzini and Barry M. Malzberg
  • Baby Doctor, by Perri Klass
  • Masques, by Bill Pronzini
  • T is for Trespass, by Sue Grafton
  • The Devil's Apprentice, by Edward Marston
  • Into the Forest, by Jean Hegland
  • Light Raid, by Connie Willis and Cynthia Felice
  • The Elephants of Norwich, by Edward Marston
  • Fire Watch, by Connie Willis
  • Rings, Swords, and Monsters: Exploring Fantasy Literature, by Michael Drout (on CD)
March (4F, 3NF)
  • Hard Row, by Margaret Maron (on CD)
  • The Skull Beneath the Skin, by P.D. James
  • Dead Men Do Tell Tales, by William R. Maples and Michael Browning
  • The Hidden Life of Art, by Clare Gibson
  • Not Quite What I Was Planning (ed. Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith)
  • Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, by Jonathan Safran Foer (on CD)
  • The Best New British Mysteries (ed. by Maxim Jakubowki)
April (5F, 3NF)
  • Dead Time, by Stephen White
  • The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold (on CD)
  • Banishing Verona, by Margot Livesey
  • Killer Year (ed. Lee Child)
  • Phaic Tan, by Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, and Rob Sitch
  • The Coldest Blood, by Jim Kelly
  • Blue Pills, by Frederik Peeters
  • Her Story, by Barbara J. MacHaffie
May (6F, 4NF)
  • Just One Look, by Harlan Coben (on CD)
  • In the Frame, by Helen Mirren
  • Motorcycle Jackets, by Rin Tanaka
  • Dakota, by Martha Grimes
  • Ridiculous/Hilarious/Terrible/Cool, by Elisha Cooper
  • John, by Niall Williams
  • The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by David Selznick
  • Laura Ingalls Wilder Country, by William Anderson
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart
  • This Just In, by Bob Schieffer (on CD)
June (2F, 2NF)
  • The Lives They Left Behind, by Darby Penney and Peter Stastny
  • Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer (on CD)
  • Little House in the Big Woods, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
  • Air Mail, by Terry Ravenscroft
July (3F, 3NF)
  • Tweak, by Nic Sheff
  • Sisters on the Case (ed. Sara Paretsky)
  • Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
  • Careless in Red, by Elizabeth George
  • Grace (Eventually), by Anne Lamott (on CD)
  • Maps and Legends, by Michael Chabon
August (5F, 1NF)
  • New Orleans Beat, by Julie Smith
  • Ruby's Imagine, by Kim Antieau
  • The Judas Judge, by Michael McGarrity
  • The Common Bond, by Donigan Merritt
  • Up Till Now, by William Shatner
  • Dying to Tell, by Robert Goddard (on CD)
September (7F)
  • Simple Justice, by John M. Wilson
  • Blanche on the Lam, by Barbara Neely
  • Death in Bloodhound Red, by Virginia Lanier
  • Codex 632, by José Rodrigues dos Santos (on CD)
  • Bucket Nut, by Liza Cody
  • On a Day Like This, by Peter Stamm
  • The House of Power, by Patrick Carman
October (7F, 3NF)
  • Everything is Miscellaneous, by David Weinberger
  • Wolf, No Wolf, by Peter Bowen
  • The Laughter of Dead Kings, by Elizabeth Peters
  • Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (on CD)
  • Winter and Night, by S.J. Rozan
  • The Dollmaker's Daughters, by Abigail Padgett
  • Demolition Angel, by Robert Crais (on CD)
  • Damage Control, by J.A. Jance
  • Traffic : Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us), by Tom Vanderbilt
  • Hoodwink, by Bill Pronzini
November (6F, 1NF)
  • A Cold Day in Paradise, by Steve Hamilton
  • Blind Bloodhound Justice, by Virgnia Lanier
  • The Watermelon King, by Daniel Wallace
  • The Yiddish Policemen's Union, by Michael Chabon (on CD)
  • Reflecting the Sky, by S. J. Rozan
  • Strangers in Death, by J.D. Robb
  • Please Don't Remain Calm, by Michael Kinsley
December (5F, 4NF)
  • Glut, by Alex Wright
  • Gone, by Lisa Gardner (on CD)
  • Breath and Bones, by Susann Cokal
  • A Mouthful of Air, by Anthony Burgess
  • By Jove! by Michael Macrone
  • Unnatural Selection, by Aaron Elkins
  • Scattershot, by Bill Pronzini
  • The Fine Art of Murder (ed. Ed Gorman, Martin H. Greenberg, and Larry Segriff, with Jon L. Breen)
  • Somewhere in the City, by Marcia Muller

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Reading Statistics for 2007

Like the last couple of years, I've done a compiled list of reading for 2007, beginning with a list of books that were memorable, not necessarily for their Literary Quality.

Most Memorable (not necessarily best, but stuck in my head)
Child of My Heart, by Alice McDermott
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling
The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
You Suck : A Love Story, by Christopher Moore
The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson
Best
Child of My Heart, by Alice McDermott
Born on a Blue Day, by Daniel Tammet
Midnight Cactus, by Bella Pollen
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs
The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling
The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson
Least Memorable (otherwise known as "I read wha-at?")
The Calling, by Catherine Whitney
Washington Schlepped Here, by Christopher Buckley
5 Books (or Authors) Best Forgotten
Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings, by Tyler Perry
Inexcusable, by Chris Lynch
The Sudoku Murder, by Shelley Freydont
Garbage Land : On the Secret Trail of Trash, by Elizabeth Royte
Single Tree, by Gary D. Svee

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now for the statistics for the year:

number of books read in 2007: 75
number of books read in 2006: 77
number of books read in 2005: 127
number of books read in 2004: 102
number of books read in 2003: 100
number of books read in 2002: 118
number of books read in 2001: 83
number of books read in 2000: 128
TOTAL : 810

average read per year, over eight years: 101
average read per month: 6.25 (over seven years: 8.44)
average read per week: 1.44 (over seven years: 1.94)

number read in worst month: 3--November(in 2006: 4--tied April, May, June and August; in 2005: 5--January and June; in 2004: 0--July)

number read in best month: 9--March (in 2006: 11--January; in 2005: 21--February; in 2004: 12--June)

number of fiction: 53 (in 2006: 56; in 2005: 74; in 2004: 61)
number of non-fiction: 22 (in 2006: 21; in 2005: 53; in 2004: 41)

number of female authors: 24 (same as last year--how odd!)
number of male authors: 40 (2006: 33)
[discrepancies are due to multiple books read by one author,individual books by multiple authors--and edited books, which are not counted at all]

2007 Reading List

January (4NF, 4F)
  • The Serpents of Harbledown, by Edward Marston
  • From Jesus to Christianity : A History of the Early Church, by Thomas F. Madden (on CD)
  • The Things You Get for Free, by Michael McGirr
  • Snowbound, by Bill Pronzini
  • Bill Bryson's African Diary, by Bill Bryson
  • A Massive Swelling, by Cintra Wilson
  • Close to Home, by Peter Robinson (on CD)
  • The Wildcats of Exeter, by Edward Marston
February (2NF, 3F)
  • Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings, by Tyler Perry
  • The Calling, by Catherine Whitney
  • Child of My Heart, by Alice McDermott (on CD)
  • Inexcusable, by Chris Lynch
  • Skeleton Dance, by Aaron Elkins
March (3NF, 6F)
  • The Foxes of Warwick, by Edward Marston
  • Hunting Season, by Nevada Barr (on CD)
  • No Good Deed, by Laura Lippman (on CD)
  • 1,000 Common Delusions : And the Real Facts Behind Them by Christa Pöppelmann
  • Pressed to Kill, by Dolores Johnson
  • Washington Schlepped Here, by Christopher Buckley (on CD)
  • The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog : and Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook, by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz
  • What's the Worst That Could Happen? by Donald Westlake
  • Pale Kings and Princes, by Robert Parker
April (2NF, 4F)
  • Kill Me, by Stephen White
  • Mothers and Sons, by Colm Tóibín
  • Inkspell, by Cornelia Funke (on CD)
  • Jesus: His Life and Teachings, by Joseph F. Girzone (on CD)
  • The Running of Beasts, by Bill Pronzini & Barry Malzberg
  • Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog : The Quirky History and Lost Art of Diagramming Sentences, by Kitty Burns Florey
May (1NF, 4F)
  • Something Rotten, by Jasper Fforde (on CD)
  • Midnight Cactus, by Bella Pollen
  • Born on a Blue Day, by Daniel Tammet
  • Games, by Bill Pronzini
  • Figure of Hate, by Bernard Knight (on CD)
June (1NF, 3F)
  • Sight Unseen, by Robert Goddard (on CD)
  • Murder on the Leviathan, by Boris Akunin
  • Inventing English, by Seth Lerer
  • The Sudoku Murder, by Shelley Freydont
July (5F)
  • Crusader's Cross, by James Lee Burke (on CD)
  • The Lone and Level Sands, by A. David Lewis
  • Faith : Stories (edited by C. Michael Curtis)
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling
  • Undercurrent, by Bill Pronzini
August (3NF, 3F)
  • Scandals, Vandals, and Da Vincis : A Gallery of Remarkable Art Tales, by Harvey Rachlin
  • The Whitechapel Conspiracy, by Anne Perry (on CD)
  • The Ever-Running Man, by Marcia Muller
  • The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot : A New Look at Betrayer And Betrayed, by Bart Ehrman
  • You Suck : A Love Story, by Christopher Moore
  • Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs
September (3NF, 5F)
  • The Art of Detection, by Laurie R. King (on CD)
  • The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
  • Justice Denied, by J.A. Jance
  • Dante and his Divine Comedy, by Timothy B. Shutt (on CD)
  • Cinderella's Gold Slipper : Spiritual Symbolism in the Grimms' Tales, by Samuel D. Fohr
  • Garbage Land : On the Secret Trail of Trash, by Elizabeth Royte
  • The Quality of Life Report, by Meghan Daum
  • Thursday Next : First Among Sequels, by Jasper Fforde
October (1NF, 7F)
  • Turncoat, by Aaron Elkins
  • Single Tree, by Gary D. Svee
  • Twospot, by Bill Pronzini and Collin Wilcox
  • Dark Sins, Dark Dreams (edited by Bary N. Malzberg and Bill Pronzini)
  • The Wanton Angel, by Edward Marston
  • Group Improvisation, by Peter Gwinn
  • Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade, by Diana Gabaldon
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling (on CD)
November (1NF, 2F)
  • Beyond the Body Farm, by Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson
  • What the Dead Know, by Laura Lippman
  • The Owls of Gloucester, by Edward Marston
December (1NF, 7F)
  • The Iliad, by Homer (on CD)
  • The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson
  • I've Got a Home in Glory Land, by Karolyn Smardz Frost
  • The Man Who Wrote the Book, by Erik Tarloff
  • The Memory Keeper's Daughter, by Kim Edwards (on CD)
  • Good Blood, by Aaron Elkins
  • Sign of the Book, by John Dunning
  • Bones to Ashes, by Kathy Reichs

Sunday, December 31, 2006

2006 Booklist

January (2NF, 9F)
  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
  • Curses! by Aaron Elkins
  • Women of the Asylum (written and edited by Jeffrey L. Geller & Maxine Harris)
  • The Roaring Boy, by Edward Marston
  • The Snatch, by Bill Pronzini
  • Icy Clutches, by Aaron Elkins
  • The Dragons of Archenfield, by Edward Marston
  • A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina Lewycka
  • Around the World in a Bad Mood, by Rene Foss
  • Panic! by Bill Pronzini
  • A Glancing Light, by Aaron Elkins

    February (4NF, 4F)
  • Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K. Rowling (on CD)
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls, by Michael Wise, Martin Abegg, Jr., & Edward Cook
  • The Psychologist's Book of Personality Tests, by Louis Janda
  • Make No Bones, by Aaron Elkins
  • Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K. Rowling (on CD)
  • We Interrupt This Broadcast, by Joe Garner
  • Old Scores, by Aaron Elkins
  • America's Women, by Gail Collins

    March (2NF, 4F)
  • S is for Silence, by Sue Grafton
  • The Past from Above, by Georg Gerster
  • Misquoting Jesus, by Bart D. Ehrman
  • Fire Sale, by Sara Paretsky
  • Dance of the Assassins, by Hervé Jubert
  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling (on CD)

    April (1NF, 3F)
  • Night, by Elie Wiesel
  • Enduring Love, by Ian McEwan
  • Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett (on CD)
  • Tomb of the Golden Bird, by Elizabeth Peters

    May (2NF, 2F)
  • The Soul of Christianity, by Huston Smith
  • The Lions of the North, by Edward Marston
  • Out of Bounds, by Roy Simmons
  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K. Rowling (on CD)

    June (1NF, 3F)
  • Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K. Rowling (on CD)
  • A Coyote in the House, by Elmore Leonard
  • Walk On, by Steve Stockman
  • The Brothers K, by David James Duncan

    July (2NF, 3F)
  • Blood Lure, by Nevada Barr (on CD)
  • Coroner's Journal, by Louis Cataldie
  • Talk to the Hand, by Lynne Truss
  • Waking Lazarus, by T.L. Hines
  • Definitely Dead, by Charlaine Harris

    August (1NF, 3F)
  • The Ride of Our Lives, by Mike Leonard
  • Which Brings Me to You, by Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott
  • Vanishing Point, by Marcia Muller
  • Twelve Sharp, by Janet Evanovich

    September (10F)
  • The Fair Maid of Bohemia, by Edward Marston
  • The Bookwoman's Last Fling, by John Dunning
  • Rotten Lies, by Charlotte & Aaron Elkins
  • The Hawks of Delamere, by Edward Marston
  • The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman (on CD)
  • Abide With Me, by Elizabeth Stroud
  • Dead Men's Hearts, by Aaron Elkins
  • Nasty Breaks, by Charlotte and Aaron Elkins
  • The Subtle Knife, by Philip Pullman (on CD)
  • The Stallions of Woodstock, by Edward Marston

    October (3NF, 5F)
  • Now All We Need is a Title, by André Bernard
  • The Drowning Man, by Margaret Coel
  • Pobby and Dingan, by Ben Rice
  • The Amber Spyglass, by Philip Pullman (on CD)
  • Mapping the World of Harry Potter (edited by Mercedes Lackey)
  • The Pill, Pygmy Chimps, and Degas' Horse, by Carl Djerassi
  • Cross Bones, by Kathy Reichs (on CD)
  • The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights, by Faye Kellerman

    November (3NF, 3F)
  • Blame It On the Rain, by Laura Lee
  • A History of the English Language, by Michael Drout (on CD)
  • What Came Before He Shot Her, by Elizabeth George
  • Words, Words, Words, by David Crystal
  • No Trace, by Barry Maitland
  • Blue Screen, by Robert B. Parker (on CD)

    December (7F)
  • All Mortal Flesh, by Julia Spencer-Fleming
  • Blowback, by Bill Pronzini
  • Twenty Blue Devils, by Aaron Elkins
  • The Nanny Diaries, by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (on CD)
  • Tricks and Treats (ed. Joe Gores and Bill Pronzini)
  • Loot, by Aaron Elkins More Whatdunits (ed. Michael Resnick)
  • 2006 in Books

    Like the last couple of years, I've done a compiled list of reading for 2006, beginning with a list of books that were memorable, not necessarily for their Literary Quality.

    Most Memorable (not necessarily best, but stuck in my head)

    A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, by Marina Lewycka
    Misquoting Jesus, by Bart D. Ehrman
    Which Brings Me to You, by Steve Almond and Julianna Baggott
    A History of the English Language, by Michael Drout (on CD)
    Best 5 4

    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
    Misquoting Jesus, by Bart D. Ehrman
    Words, Words, Words, by David Crystal
    The Nanny Diaries, by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (on CD)
    Least Memorable (otherwise known as "I read wha-at?")

    We Interrupt This Broadcast, by Joe Garner
    The Soul of Christianity, by Huston Smith
    5 Books (or Authors) Best Forgotten

    Out of Bounds, by Roy Simmons [nothing else is even close to this one]

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Now for the statistics for the year:

    number of books read in 2006: 77
    number of books read in 2005: 127
    number of books read in 2004: 102
    number of books read in 2003: 100
    number of books read in 2002: 118
    number of books read in 2001: 83
    number of books read in 2000: 128
    TOTAL : 735

    average read per year, over seven years: 105
    average read per month: 6.42 (over seven years: 8.75)
    average read per week: 1.48 (over seven years: 2.02)

    number read in worst month: 4--tie: April, May, June, and August (in 2005: 5--January and June; in 2004: 0--July)

    number read in best month: 11--January (in 2005: 21--February; in 2004: 12--June)

    number of fiction: 56 (in 2005: 74; in 2004: 61)
    number of non-fiction: 21 (in 2005: 53; in 2004: 41)

    number of female authors: 24
    number of male authors: 33
    [discrepancies are due to multiple books read by one author,individual books by multiple authors and edited books, which are not counted at all]
    I never did a count for this last year